Lambda Technologies has developed a solution to extend fatigue life and eliminate stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in oil field tubular goods. Using low plasticity burnishing (LPB®), Lambda engineers apply a deep, stable layer of designed residual compression to the vulnerable regions of casings, couplings and pipes. LPB introduces a layer of residual compression much deeper than the shallow damage from corrosion pitting, fretting, or handling damage. Fatigue, stress corrosion, or sulfide stress cracks that can initiate from this surface damage cannot propagate through the layer of high residual compression, eliminating potential failures.
The US alone produces 8.5 million barrels of oil and natural gas per day, relying on steel pipe and well casings for drilling and recovery efforts. Hydrogen sulfide is commonly encountered downhole, creating a sour environment that can limit the fatigue strength and crack resistance of steel tubular goods. Attempts are being made to extend component life using more expensive stainless steels or reducing operating stresses, but changing the material or design of any existing part is costly, and limiting operating stresses reduces profits. The engineered use of beneficial residual compression represents a modern way of thinking about production and maintenance support. Because LPB doesnt require any changes to the material or existing design of the part, the application provides a relatively inexpensive alternative to improve component life and performance.
As more deep wells and offshore resources are developed, this cost-effective method of mitigating cracking downhole is an invaluable tool to reduce operational costs and improve profits. The time and money saved by implementing designed compression through the use of highly controlled surface treatments like LPB is astonishing. Its encouraging to see an increasing number of overhaul applications, but its even more exciting to see OEMs including it in the initial design phase of components. With designed compression, parts last longer and cost less to maintain, says Dr. Jayaraman, Director of Materials Research at Lambda Technologies.
Image courtesy of Lambda Technologies